KAZAN 2015: ONLY 15 DAYS TO GO !

In 15 days, the Russian sports capital will welcome the world’s aquatic elite on the occasion of the 16th FINA World Championships, a global celebration of FINA’s six disciplines; swimming, synchronised swimming, diving, high diving, water polo and open water swimming.

The world will be watching more than 2,500 athletes from 186 countries taking part in one of the planet’s biggest sports events which cumulates a TV audience of 4.5 billion.

With more than 120,000 tickets sold so far, the swimming and synchronised swimming events will take place at the Kazan Arena, a football stadium transformed into the main venue to host the FINA World Championships. A competition and a training temporary swimming pools have been installed in Kazan’s famous football stadium which has a capacity of 12,000 seats. Diving will have its own venue, the Aquatics Palace (photo above), while water polo’s action will happen at the brand new Water Polo Arena. Outdoor events, high diving and open water swimming, will take place at the Kazanka river venue.

KAZAN 2015, photo credit FINA

In parallel to the preparations, the Kazan 2015 Organising Committee released a mobile application for iOS and Android devices especially designed for the upcoming World Championships. The application provides instant useful information to the users such as the competition schedule, venues information, public transport routes and nearest stops and non-sport activities to do in the surroundings. The users will be able to keep up with the results and actions of each competition day, read the latest news and have a look at the photo and video feeds in one click. The application is available in Russian and English languages.

DOHA GEARS UP FOR UNIQUE ‘FESTIVAL OF AQUATICS’

The Qatari capital will play host to a number of landmark events this coming end of year with the 3rd edition of the FINA World Aquatics Convention (Nov 29-Dec 1) and 2nd FINA Swimming Coaches Golden Clinic (Nov 30-Dec 1) taking place prior to the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), which will gather more than 900 of the world’s top swimmers at the superb Hamad Aquatic Centre from December 3-7.

The Convention will bring together world leaders in aquatics, who will interact in various conferences, panel discussions and an Exhibition featuring key actors in aquatic sports (sponsors, manufacturers, media, future host of FINA events, etc.).

The 2nd FINA Swimming Coaches Golden Clinic (former FINA Gold Medal Swimming Coaches Clinic) will provide a exchange platform for delegates and coaches from FINA’s 204 member federations with top-level swimming coaches. The clinic’s main topic will be ‘Science & Innovation in Swimming’.

DOHA GEARS UP FOR UNIQUE ‘FESTIVAL OF AQUATICS’

Moreover, FINA will hold an Extraordinary Congress on November 29, 2014 to determine future innovations and rule changes in its sports.

On December 1, FINA will honour the Best Athletes of the year in the six disciplines – Swimming, Diving, Water polo, Synchronised swimming, Open water swimming and High diving – at its Gala Dinner, the ‘Soirée des Etoiles’.

Swimming World Cup: Mastbank (Russia) is the new title sponsor in 2014

The FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione was today in Moscow (RUS) to sign an agreement with Russian commercial bank MASTBANK, which becomes the title sponsor of the 2014 edition of the FINA Swimming World Cup.

“We are very happy to establish this partnership, which confirms and consolidates the value of the FINA Swimming World Cup. Besides the World Championships and Olympic Games, this is our main swimming yearly competition, with the participation of great athletes”, considered Dr. Julio C. Maglione.

From the side of Mastbank, the Chairman of its Executive Board Alexey Vlasenko also highlighted this opportunity: “We are very proud to be associated with FINA and with this prestigious event. We look forward to a long-term partnership for the benefit of Aquatics and its athletes worldwide”, said Mr. Vlasenko, also member of the FINA Technical Diving Committee.

The calendar of the 2014 edition of the FINA/Mastbank Swimming World Cup includes seven legs distributed on three clusters. The kick-off of the series will take place in Doha (QAT) on August 27-28, and the World Cup will successively visit Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (HKG), Moscow (RUS), Beijing (CHN), Tokyo (JPN), and Singapore (SIN), the final stop on November 1-2.

FINA President Dr. Julio Maglione and Mastbank Executive Board Chairman Alexey Vlasenko

The 2014 FINA/Mastbank Swimming World Cup series will see swimmers challenging for almost US$ 2 million in prize money, making the series the world’s richest swimming circuit. Moreover, World Records are also worth a reward to our best swimmers.

Over the years, the FINA Swimming World Cup has become a major milestone in the international 25m-pool swimming calendar, gathering some of the biggest FINA stars, including the 2013 World Cup men’s and women’s champions: Chad Le Clos (RSA) and Katinka Hosszu (HUN).

This year, the competition will have an additional value: it will give a precious indication on the world hierarchy before the main event of the year, the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), to be staged in Doha (QAT) from December 3-7.

FINA Swimming World Cup 2014

FULL CALENDAR

August 27-28 Doha (QAT)

August 31 – September 1 Dubai (UAE)

September 29-30 Hong Kong (HKG)

October 4-5 Moscow (RUS)

October 24-25 Beijing (CHN)

October 28-29 Tokyo (JPN)

November 1-2 Singapore (SIN)

fina.org

DAWN Games: Oyo humbles Lagos, battles Ogun in football final

A hard fighting Oyo State football team stopped the ambition of Team Lagos from reaching the final of the male football event at the ongoing DAWN Games at the Agege Stadium on Wednesday.

The pulsating encounter saw Team Oyo scoring two quick goals in the first half of the match through Tajudeen Sodiq, while effort of Team Lagos to equaliser could only produce a goal in the second half through Michael Andrew.

In the other semi final match, Team Ogun thrashed Team Osun 1-0 to set up a final clash against Team Oyo on Thursday. Lagos coach Leo Lawson blamed defensive errors for the defeat, saying that his boys lost concentration when it matters most in the course of the match.

“Our target now is on the third place match against Team Osun. We beat them in the group stage and I expect my boys to do the same again when we meet for the bronze medal tie. I hope to present a new set of players that had not played since we began this competition,” said Lawson.

Secretary of Ogun State Football Association, Leo Adenekan is however looking forward to his state winning football gold at the expense of Team Oyo.

He said after his team beat Team Osun yesterday “I’ve the confidence that we’ll win the gold medal of this event on Thursday by the grace of God,” Leo said.

The third place match between Lagos and Osun will be played by 10a.m Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, while the female final between Lagos and Ogun will be decided by 1:30pm at the same venue. The final will take place by 3:30pm.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mrs. Modupe Omonigbehin is satisfied with the performance of his state in the ongoing Games, which will end on Friday.

Omonigbehin noted that the athletes have proved themselves beyond her expectations, adding that the state may come second at the end of the championship.

“I’m quite impressed with the performance of our students. We have won some medals in some events and we can still win more before the tournament ends on Friday,” she said.

Omonigbehin said that the DAWN Games has lived up to expectations in the area of organisation. She commended the Lagos State Government for its effort to make the tournament a huge success.

She said that the sports facilities put in place by host helped the athletes to perform better and urged other regions in Nigeria to organise an event that will make their athletes prepare for National Sports Festival and future national competitions.

Despite the fact that Team Ondo failed to participate, Omonigbehin said their absence has not really affected the DAWN Games and believes that Team Ondo will take part in the next edition.

Team Lagos Clears 30 of 32 Gold medals at Swimming event of DAWN Games

Team Lagos completed almost completed a clean sweep of medals of the swimming event at the Dawn games, Lagos 2014.

The swimming pool of the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, was the venue of this Epoch making event, and a sizeable crowd was on hand to witness history being made.

The Lagos team won 30 Gold medals from a possible 32 with 27 Silver and 3 Bronze.

Morayo Okungbowa

Star of the swimming event and arguably star of the tournament is Okungbowa Morayo of Lagos, who won 10 Gold 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals to a make a total of 13 medals, the highest haul of medals by any individual athlete at the DAWN Games so far

This achievement will definitely be impossible for any other athlete at this games to surpass or even match.

Oyo came 2nd on the Swimming medals table with 2 Gold medals 3 Silver and 22 bronze medals, while Ogun state came 3rd with no Gold, 2 Silver and 7 bronze medals.

The kind of display put by Morayo Okungbowa and other young athletes at the DAWN Games only confirms the fact that this country is blessed with a lot of talent and its grassroots competitions like this that we need to harness the various hidden talents across the Nation

Sola Rogers.

DAWN Games 2014: Lagos dominates gymnastics, as football enters semis

Team Lagos were outstanding in the Gymnastics events of the maiden South-West Secondary Schools Championship tagged DAWN Games 2014 as they won 17 medals to top the medal table of the sport decided at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba.

The breakdown of medals won showed that the Ortega Akintola inspired Team Lagos won 8 gold, 6 silver and. 3 bronze. Team Ekiti were second with 2 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medal. Ogun were third with 1 gold, 5 bronze while Team Oyo could only win 3 silver and 2 bronze to claim the fourth position.

Football event which enters semi final stage on Wednesday with Team Lagos taking on Team Oyo as early as 8am at Agege Stadium, while the second semi final scheduled for the afternoon will involve Team Ogun and Osun State.

Finals of events such as Basketball, Volleyball, Swimming, Scrabble and Chess will take place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Meanwhile, chairman, Technical Committee of Lagos State Football Association, Dotun Coker, has said that the football event at the DAWN Games has shown that there is positive and future in the development of football in the Western part of Nigeria.

Coker, said the tournament which was the initiative of DAWN Commission and designed for Secondary School students within the South West zone would create an enabling environment to harness young sports talents in the region.

The Chairman, LSFA Technical Committee, said he had saddled the chairman of Ikeja Football Coaches Council, Rafiu Taiwo, with the responsibility of writing a technical report and also to identify the best 18 football players for the region ahead of future tournaments.

According to him, Coach Taiwo is expected to submit his report to him for ratification and easy passage to the DAWN Commission.

He detested the lackadaisical attitude of the Lagos State Football Coaches Association for not been present at Agege Stadium where football is taking place, stressing that their presence would enable them to present the LSFA a detailed technical report based on their assessment of each participating team.

DAWN GAMES 2014 APPROVED SCHEDULE OF VENUES & DATES

DAWN GAMES 2014 APPROVED SCHEDULE OF VENUES & DATES
FRIDAY 16TH May – SATURDAY 24TH MAY, 2014

MOBOLAJI JOHNSON SPORTS CENTRE, ROWE PARK, YABA

S/N. SPORTS. EVENTS (BOYS) EVENTS (GIRLS) DURATION. EVENTS DATES. VENUES. REMARKS

1 GYMNASTICS. 6. 5. 3 Days Sun 18th May–Tues 20th May, 2014 Sports Hall

2 BADMINTON. 2. 2. 2 Days Weds 21st May– Thurs 22nd May, 2014. Sports Hall

3 BASKETBALL. 1. 1. 3 Days. Mon 19th May – Weds 21st May, 2014. Basketball Courts

4 TENNIS. 2. 2. 2 Days. Mon 19th May – Tues 20th May, 2014 Tennis Courts

TESLIM BALOGUN STADIUM, SURULERE

S/N. SPORTS. EVENTS (BOYS) EVENTS (GIRLS) DURATION. EVENTS DATES. VENUES. REMARKS
5 TABLE-TENNIS. 2. 2. 2 Days. Mon 19th May–Tues 20th May, 2014. Sports Hall

6 TAEKWONDO. 5. 3. 2 Days. Weds 21st May–Thurs 22nd May, 2014 Sports Hall

7 VOLLEYBALL. 1. 1. 3 Days. Mon 19th May–Weds 21st May, 2014 Volleyball Courts

8 SWIMMING. 16. 16 3 Days. Mon 19th May–Weds 21st May, 201 Swimming pool

9 SCRABBLE. 2 + 2 MXD. 2. 2 Days. Tues 20th May–Weds 21st May, 2014 Sports Bar

10 ATHLETICS. 13. 13. 2 Days. Tues 20th May–Weds 21st May, 2014 Main Bowl
3 3. 1 Day Fri 23rd May, 2014 Main Bowl. Additional 1 day for Finals of 100m, 4X100m relay and 4X400m relay (Boys & Girls)

11 CHESS. 8. 8. 2 Days. Tues 20th May – Weds 21st May, 2014. Media Centre

12 FOOTBALL. 1. 1. 1 Day. Thurs 22nd May, 2014 Main Bowl. 3rd Place and Final Matches (Boys & Girls)

AGEGE STADIUM

12 FOOTBALL. 1. 1. 3 Days. Sun 18th, Mon 19th & Weds 21st May, 2014. Main Bowl

DAWN Games kicks off in Lagos

The maiden edition of South-West Secondary Schools Games tagged DAWN Games begins on Friday May 16 in Lagos with over 2,000 athletes and officials in attendance.

The DAWN Games, which will be competed by athletes from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti State, is a 12 sports tournament of Nigeria School Sports Federation, NSSF. The sports are Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Football, Gymnastics, Scrabble, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Taekwondo and Volleyball. It will be staged in three centres across Lagos: Agege Stadium, Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba and the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, while the NYSC Camp at Iyana Ipaja in Lagos.

According to the schedule of event released to the media by the Technical Sub-Committee of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), athletes and officials are expected to check in to the Games Village on Friday with accreditations taking off in full swing, while events will begin on Sunday May 18 with Football and Gymnastics taking the centre stage at the Agege Stadium and Rowe Park Sports Centre respectively.

According to the schedules, Rowe Park will also play host to Badminton, Basketball and Tennis. At Teslim Balogun Stadium, sports such as Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Swimming, Scrabble and Athletics will be on stage, while Agege Stadium will also host Chess.

It was gathered that Team Ogun, would present 186 athletes, while no fewer than 163 athletes will represent Team Lagos.

Meanwhile, a member of basketball team for Lagos, Ololade Azeez has expressed confidence that Lagos will win gold medal in both male and female basketball event of the competition.

“I am happy to be among the players that will represent Lagos at DAWN Games. Our training so far is superb and very impressive. We are in good form now and ready to win gold medals for team Lagos in Basketball both male and female category,” he said.

Head Coach of Badminton of Team Lagos, Kayode Olatunji said there is high spirit in camp as the players are looking forward to participating at the DAWN Games, adding that the supports the players and officials received from the state government will boost their morale to excel at the Games, which will end on 24 May.

DAWN Games will foster unity among youths in South West, says Ibirogba

DAWN Games will foster unity among youths in South West, says Ibirogba • Ogun shapes up for tourney

Chairman of Media and Publicity Subcommittee of the DAWN Games, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, has said that the tournament would help foster good relationship among the youth of the south-west states of the country

The maiden edition of the DAWN Games, a competition among secondary schools in Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States, will be held in Lagos from May 16 to 24, 2014.

The chairman of the Media Subcommittee, who is also the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State said the competition would bring youth in the region together to compete in a healthy environment, adding that the DAWN Games is symbolic because the south-west states want to show the rest of the country the cordial relationship that exists within the people and governments of the region and the need to use youth and sports to preach unity among the people.

Meanwhile, as the kick off date of the Games draws nearer, Team Ogun say they can’t wait for the school sports championship to start.

Director of Sports, Ogun State Sports Council, Mr. Adesola Faleti, said the state’s athletes are ready and are in good sporting form to excel at the competition.

“The athletes have been training for a couple of months. We are going to participate in 12 sports events and in Ogun State, we specialise in more than 33 sports, thus taking 12 out of 33 won’t be a problem for us,” said Faleti during the inspection of facilities and venues for the championship which took place recently in Lagos.

Faleti noted that the Games would enable Ogun State Sports Council to assess its grassroots developmental programmes which has been well supported by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and more importantly it would assist the sports council the opportunity to replace
its ageing athletes.

”Since inception of Governor Amosun’s administration, we had been mandated to develop sports at the grassroots. I think the DAWN Games will definitely assist us to discover budding talent to replace the older athletes,” he said.

The former national pugilist said the state’s effective grassroots sports programme had earned Ogun a positive result as the National Sports Commission, NSC, invited over 22 athletes from the state to the national team, while six junior football players were also invited to the camp of the national U-13 team.

“DAWN Games can bring positive and better future for the nation as athletes we will discover in the regional championship can be selected for the country’s future international outings.

“I believe the DAWN Games is another opportunity to explain the commitment of the southwest state governments towards building Nigerian future stars who would take over from the ageing national athletes.

The DAWN Games is the needed grassroots developmental programme which we can use to aid the growth of sports and the wellbeing of our athletes,” he said.

He concluded that Ogun State Sports Council is working with the support of the Ministry of Education to place athletes that will excel in the DAWN Games on scholarship for them to continue their education.

The DAWN Games will feature 12 sports, which are athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball with over 2000 athletes and officials expected to participate.

The events will take place at Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere and Agege Stadium. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp in Iyana-Ipaja will serve as the Games Village.

Facilities inspection, technical committee meeting for DAWN Games hold

The Joint Technical Meeting (JTM) and inspection of facilities for the DAWN Games (South West Secondary Schools Games) holding in Lagos, comes up this week from Thursday April 23 to 25, 2014.

The DAWN Games, involving all the southwest states of Nigeria – Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ondo, starts May 16 to 24, this year in Lagos.

According to the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the Director of Sports/ General Manager, Sports Council and the Director in charge of sports in the Ministry of Education will represent each state at the JTM and inspection.

Others expected are representatives from DAWN Commission, National Sports Commission (NSC) South West Zonal Coordinator and LOC members.

The inspection begins on Thursday April 24 and the team is expected to inspect the venues like Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere; and Agege Stadium.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp in Iyana-Ipaja, which will serve as the Games Village will also be inspected.

The Joint Technical Meeting follows the inspection on Friday April 25.

The games will feature 12 sports, which are athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, gymnastics, scrabble, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo and volleyball with over 2000 athletes and officials expected to participate.

HOSSZU: “I ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING NEW, EVEN AFTER 20 YEARS OF SWIMMING!”

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu is attending the SportAccord Convention in Belek, Turkey this week. The current 200m and 400m IM World champion is on-hand both in and out the pool as she is to take part in a practice session with kids from the local swimming clubs today and the first-ever “Youth Club” discussion panel on Thursday April 10, together with other outstanding young athletes.

Always flashing a smile, the 24-year-old is creating the buzz at the FINA stand in the Susesi Convention Centre. The Iron Lady of swimming takes a moment to reflect on her career, goals and aspirations for the sport she loves so much.

Winner of the 2012 and 2013 FINA World Cups, what is your training secret to swim so many events?
I train eight to nine hours a day, five in the morning and three to four in the afternoon. It’s a lot of work but it’s also my passion: I love to swim.

Do you train differently for the World Cup than for other championships? In which way?
Given that my specialty is IM, I have to train all strokes and that’s also why I’ve been competing in all the different strokes during the World Cup. Of course, for the World Championships and the Olympics I will only prepare for 200m IM and the 400m IM.

What makes the FINA World Cup attractive to athletes?
The prize money, the environment at the event – a place with the top athletes – and a great overall vibe.

What are your goals leading up to the Rio Games?
During the last Olympic Games I came in fourth which is the worst position. This time around I am hoping to get to the podium and I am therefore training with that in mind. There is the Maria Lenk Trophy in Sao Paulo, Brazil which is coming up and will be a good place to see where I’m at in terms of times, followed by the Singapore Swim Stars challenge in September and maybe others leading up to the FINA Swimming World Cup and FINA short-course Swimming World Championships in Doha.

How would you describe your swimming career in a few words?
Swimming is a passion. I love how it feels like being in the water, feeling the strokes as I swim. There’s always something to work on, to improve and I find it really fun. Year in and year out, I always learn something new: even after 20 years of swimming!

Tomorrow, you will take part in the Youth Club panel to discuss the challenges of attracting a younger generation of viewers to the Olympic Games. How do you think the visibility of your sport can be improved to attract more people?
I want swimming to become a professional sport like athletics or basketball, a sport that is followed year-round and that people enjoy watching – not only a sport that is enjoyed during the Olympic Games or World Championships.

If you had to promote swimming to youth around the world, how would you proceed?
I would remind them that being an elite athlete is a lot of hard work and it’s not always easy. I’ve also had some hard times and some times of doubt. We can always find an excuse not to train but young swimmers should remember that it’s not the excuses that will get you far. Nobody at the world championships will care about your excuses if you haven’t done a good time. With the appropriate training and determination, the results will come automatically.

Source: FINA.ORG

KATINKA HOSSZU TO MAKE WAVES AT SPORTACCORD CONVENTION IN BELEK!

Hungarian swimming sensation Katinka Hosszu, reigning 200m and 400m IM World champion, will attend the SportAccord Convention taking place in Belek/Antalya, Turkey, on April 6-11.

The Iron Lady, also winner of the FINA Swimming World Cup tours in 2012 and 2013, will take part in the first-ever “Youth Club” conference session, which brings together young people from sport and media to share their tastes and sporting aspirations.

Together with coach and husband Shane Tusup, Hosszu, who first shined at World level by capturing gold in the 400m IM in Rome 2009, will be available to share her experience and discuss various topics, like her unrivalled versatility in the pool.

The 24 year-old will also spend some valuable time with young swimmers from the Turkish Swimming Federation during a practical session.

Source: FINA